Everyday Spirituality

The word “evil” needs to be used thoughtfully. It is straightforward to classify Hitler with evil. However, when we fostered children, and some children appeared to be evil incarnate, I made it a point seriously to reject the word evil. Curiosity, as to the why the child’s behavior tended to be evil, was moot next to the eagerness to win a victory over evil.

Research shows that enlightened spiritual paths commonly involve a directive to fight off evil, since evil always seems to be hurling crap at us. However, the approach to exclude, avoid, argue with, or point fingers at evil, is not nearly as effective as getting to know God. Seriously, to wrap myself up with the thoughts and love of infinite Love, God, is most successful to fight off evil.

I didn’t force myself to love a naughty child. We can’t love that which God did not create. Divine Science taught me my ability and right to reflect the love of infinite Love, like the moon radiates light. And, when I was on top of it spiritually, that expression of love made it so the fear and confusion that came hurling at me from the child would not penetrate me. More wonderful, the fear and confusion also did not bounce off and go back to the child and evil loosened its grip on the children.

With a mind full of an effort to love spiritual goodness, I was able to receive sensible ideas that helped us move forward in productive behavior. From 21^st Century Science and Health, “At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know yourself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Love is a protective covering. Wear it! Wrapped up in love, human hatred can’t reach you. The confirmation of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.”

Salespeople are trained to detect and distinguish between the serious shopper and the curious shopper. Serious shoppers have a defined intent to purchase, or “do” something; whereas, curious shoppers are “just looking.” Frequently, the curious comes disguised as the serious. Think of all the exercise equipment sitting in closets, bought by those who were seriously going to exercise but apparently were content “to look” as though they exercise. Are we serious, or curious, when it comes to spirituality?

To be passionately serious about spirituality doesn’t necessarily guarantee a spiritual experience. Yet, to be curious, or eager to learn, can open the door to an experience beyond the human mortal stuff. Seriousness and curiosity are insignificant compared to knowing exactly where our interest is placed.

Both, the serious and curious include the element of interest, and the type of interest we have determines how spiritually involved we are. An interest in divine Spirit and spirituality embraces thoughtfulness, without the sternness. An interest in social position or policies leaves spirituality out in the cold.

Divine Spirit and spirituality is interesting. From 21^st Century Science and Health, “The calm, strong forces of true spirituality are manifest as health, purity, and a magnanimous self. Spiritual mindedness must expand the human experience until the beliefs of temporal being are clearly exposed as impositions. Confusion, danger, and disorder will then give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God’s child.”

A government study found that more than half of American adults take at least one dietary supplement, spending billions of dollars a year on herbs, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and other pills. Despite the popularity, skepticism remains as to the effect of supplements. Dr. Darwin Deen, clinical professor in the department of family and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York said, “Our diet contains too many processed foods that do not have the nutrients we need to keep us health.” Taking supplements is not the answer. Deen usually advises his patients to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables rather than take a pill.

Taking supplements while eating chips and drinking soda is delusional. We read in the book, 21^st Century Science and Health, “Human beings assume that they can live without goodness, when God is good and the only real Life. What is the result? Understanding little about the divine Principle which saves and heals, human beings get rid of sin, sickness, and death only in imagination.”

But what if we don’t eat junk food, but always eat fruits and vegetables and yet still feel as though we need supplements?

Consider taking spiritual supplements.

Feeding the soul not only balances the system but also disengages the mind from being obsessed with food and skepticism. Again from 21^st Century Science and Health, we can gain “the true understanding of God in the Science which destroys human delusions and reveals the grand realities of Spirit’s allness.” We can take in the paradigm of a healthy whole Spirit and spirituality and feel its good effects.